Arch-supporter.



tain these objects by means of the mechanl UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OTIS BOOTH, OF SARATOGA SPRINGS, NEW YORK.

ARCH-SUPPORTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 724,158, dated March 31, 1903.

Application filed January 5 1 9 03.

To aZZ whom it may concern: v

Be it known that I, OTIS BOOTH, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Saratoga Springs'-, Saratoga county, New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Arch-Supporters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a bandage to support the arch of deformed and fiat feet caused by insufficient strength of the ligaments to hold the arch in its natural position; and the object of my invention is to provide an easy and flexible bandage-support which will raise the arch gradually and assist the foot to assume its natural position and which may be worn inside of the boot or shoe without causing the wearer pain or inconvenience. I atism illustrated in the accompanying draw ings, in which Figure 1 is a side view of my arch-support in position on a foot, the shoe being broken away. Fig. 2 is an inside elevation of the bandage opened out, showing the sole-leather supporter flattened out and the pocket and cushion in dotted lines. Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the cushion. Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the cushion at Y Y, Fig. 3. Fig; 5 is a horizontal section of the cushion at Z Z, Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a vertical section of the sup porter, pocket, and cushion on the line W W, Fig. 2, but in the curved position ready for use. Fig. 7 is a horizontal section of the cushion and pocket at V V, Fig. 6. 7

Similar letters refer to similar parts throu ghout the several views.

A is the bandage, made of some soft flexible material, as kid o'rcanvas or some soft strong leather. The bandage A is cut out in form shown in Fig. 2. It is made of suitable form, size, and shape to wrap or bind around the bottom of the foot and over the instep. The two ends B and O are designed to come together a little to one side of the top'of the instep. The long narrow strip D is designed to go around the heel and the end of D meet the ends B and O. The ends B, O, and D are all provided with eyelet-holes ct a a. The

whole bandage A is cut out or made of such form and size .as to fit smoothly and snugly about the foot upon which it is designed to be used, the eyelet-holes a a cu in the ends B,

Serial No. 137,834. N0 model.)

C, and D coming together and laced snugly on the foot, as shown in Fig. 1. The long strip or end D, going around the back of the foot over the heel and being laced snugly with the ends 13 and O, as shown in Fig. 1, helps to hold the arch-supporter'snugly in place and prevents its slipping forward on the foot.

Attached to the inside of the bandage A is the supporter E, made of some-strong mate rial, preferably sole leather, with beveled edges and molded with inside concaved in width and convex in length to fit the shape of the arch of the foot. This supporter E is so attached to the inside of the'bandage A that when the bandage is wrapped about the foot the supporter will come directly at the hollow of the inside or arch of the foot-that is, on the side of the foot where the arch extends the -highestone part of the supporter extending up on the side of the foot toward the instep and the other part under the bottom of the foot, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1.

On the outside of the supporter E is the receptacle or pocket G, made of soft leather or likematerial, attached to the supporter in such a position as to come in direct contact with the curve of the arch at the side of foot.

F is a cushion, preferably made of cork, ob-

rectly under the hollow or arch of the side of the foot and the ridge f, Fig. 4, of the cushion, formed by beveling the cushion from the center to the edges, will fit in the corner at the bottom of the shoe formed by the upper being joined to the sole of the shoe or boot, asshown by dotted lines in Fig. 1.

The cushion F is made adjustable, so that it may be formed to fit any shape required by high or low arches or any size of feet, as may be desired.

The bandage A may be made of leather or canvas or any suitable material which has sufficient strength to hold the arch in place and at the same time not causing pain or inconvenience to the wearer.

The ends 13, G, and D may be faced with stronger material, so that the eyelet-holes will not tear out, and the ends covered with flaps to protect the foot from the pressure of the laces.

It is readily perceived that my arch-supporter may be made to fit the right or left foot or a foot of any size, as may be desired. All parts being soft and pliable except directly under the arch, my arch-supporter may be bound firmly upon the foot, so as to raise and hold the arch in place without causing any pain or inconvenience to the wearer, and a person with ligaments so weak as to be able to walk only on the side of his foot when unsupported will soon by the use of my archsupporter be able to walk naturally and easily on the fiat of his foot.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- v 1. An arch-supporter for deformed, flat or weak feet consisting of a bandage of soft pliable material adapted to be bound around the foot, a supporter shaped to conform to the form of the arch of a foot, a cushion shaped and adjusted to conform to the size and shape of the arch of the foot to be treated, means for holding said cushion upon said supporter, said supporter being mounted upon said bandage and adapted to be held firmly, with said cushion under the arch of the foot, by said bandage, substantially as described.

2. In a bandage arch-supporter for deformed, fiat or Weak feet, a somewhat rigid supporter made of sole-leather or like material with beveled edges and with inside concaved in width and convex in length to conform to the shape of the arch of the foot, in combination with a bandage to bind said supporter in the arch of the foot, substantially as described.

3. In a bandage arch-supporter for deformed, flat or weak feet, a somewhat rigid supporter made with inside concave in width and convex in length, a cushion made of cork or other suitable material the inside concaverl in width and convex in length and the outside beveled from the center to both edges, and of a length and thickness suitable to fit the arch of the foot to be treated, means for retaining said cushion upon said supporter in combination with a bandage of flexible material adapted to bind said supporter, having said cushion mounted thereon, under the arch of the foot, substantially as described.

4. An arch-supporter for deformed, flat or weak feet consisting of a bandage of pliable material having a broad part adapted to bind around the foot passing under the arch and over the instep and a narrow part adapted to pass around the back of the foot above the heel, a supporter composed of a somewhat rigid material beveled at its edges, with its inside concave in' width and convex in length, a pocket of leather or cloth attached to said supporter near the center, a cushion the inside of which is concave in width and convex in length and the outside beveled from the center to both edges and of a length and thickness to fit the foot upon which it is to be used and adapted to be inserted in said pocket and means for attaching said supporter to said bandage and binding said supporter mounted upon said bandage upon the foot, having said cushion in said pocket mounted upon said supporter under the arch of the foot, substantially as described and for the purposes set forth.

Signed at Saratoga Springs, New York, this 24th day of December, 1902.

OTIS BOOTH.

Witnesses:

WALTER S. FAXON, TRACEY A. RECORD. 

